Cactus sinking in

10 years ago

I'm not sure what's going on, but my cactus looks like it's sinking in towards the top. It's been like this for a few months and I haven't had time to figure out what's going on. It doesn't look soft or brown, just sunk in. I have neglected it for the past 6 months or so- I've watered about once a month but I usually water it twice a month in the summer. My husband thinks the cactus had grown right before it started sinking, but I can't really tell if that's true.

Is it just a problem with underwatering it? If so, should I move up to watering it twice a month for a bit? It's in a generic cactus/succulent soil I bought at Home Depot so I want to be careful not to overwater and have the soil waterlogged.

Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated!

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Comments (3)

Nicholas C.
10 years ago
Did it go through a period with lower light. If it was kept on too low of light for a while it may have stretched a bit while looking for more light.
sd2102 (8b PNW)
Original Author
10 years ago
Maybe. All my other plants (cacti and succulents) seem ok. It gets really great morning light, but when we go on vacation I pull the shades down a bit so it doesn't get as much light.

Will it start to fill out, or is it going to keep that odd shape?
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Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
10 years ago
I've got a Cactus with the same problem. I bought it fall of 2012, overwintered it inside under grow light and when I brought it out the next year it's growth was weird with a little "bun" growing on top. Below is a sequence of it's growth since then and a final picture of it's shape now.....Maryl

Original plant Sept.2012

Next summer after bringing it out from overwintering inside under gro lights. Note top knot.

Skip to 2015. Despite its rather lumpy shape it bloomed multiple times throughout the summer.

Just brought it back inside for the winter a week ago. This is the shape of it now, Nov. 2015

If you look closely you can almost see the stop and start "growth rings" on the cactus. I'm thinking the change in light, location and growing conditions from hauling it in and back out affect the overall growth. I have no help for it as this is the best I can do. It's sending up a pup as we speak, so despite its rather lumpy appearance, I figure it's happy so far..........Maryl